Country, Culture, People, Future

June 2012

Indigenous Stories Wanted for WA Filmaking Initiative

Posted: June 28th, 2012

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Do you have a story about your community or country that you would like to be remembered in 100 years?

Indigenous Community Stories is a new initiative aiming to capture one hundred West Australian Indigenous stories on film and digitally archive them so that they can be accessed by future generations for years to come.

There is currently a pressing need to record the culture of Indigenous communities across Western Australia, particularly the stories and reflections of senior community members. This project will create invaluable records of Australian cultural heritage and identity while encouraging Indigenous filmmaking in WA.

The Film and Television Institute (FTI), in partnership with Rio Tinto, ScreenWest, Leighton and Ngarda Civil and Mining, is calling for applications from Indigenous communities who are interested in recording and preserving their stories.

The story should focus on community and country. Successful communities will need to nominate a Community Liaison Officer to work on the project and will receive some funds to cover costs of the project.

For more information on Eligibility and Assessment Criteria, click here.

To apply for Indigenous Community Stories, download and complete the application form here, and return to FTI marked to the attention of Mandy Corunna, via:

Email: mandy_corunna@staff.fti.asn.au
Fax: (08) 9335 1283
Post: PO Box 579, Fremantle, WA, 6959.

Applications close:
– 5:00pm Thursday 19 July 2012 for the July Selection Panel, and
5:00pm Friday 14 September 2012 for the September Selection Panel.

For queries or more information, contact Mandy Corunna at FTI on (08) 9431 6713 or mandy_corunna@staff.fti.asn.au

Want to work as part of the Indigenous Community Stories Film Crew?

Suitably qualified filmmakers are also wanted to record Indigenous Community Stories. If this sounds like something that may interest you, complete the expression of interest form here and return it to mandy_corunna@fti.asn.au by 19 July 2012.

Online Indigenous business magazine

Posted: June 26th, 2012

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BlackBiz.com.au is a 100% Indigenous Australian owned business enterprise with a vision to build a central online Indigenous Australian business hub to foster, showcase and grow Indigenous entrepreneurship in Australia.

A key feature of the BlackBiz.com.au web site is its bi-monthly national online Indigenous eMagazine, BlackBiz, which showcases and profiles a vast array of Indigenous business talent in rural, urban, remote and Island communities across Australia. 

Click here for more information and to read BlackBiz eMagazine.

BlackBiz also offers  communications, marketing and advertising services to Indigenous businesses.

More information, and the 4th edition of BlackBiz, launched today, is now available at www.blackbiz.com.au.

This edition has some great articles on Reconcilliation week, an interview with Dr Anita Heiss and some really important business tips, as well as more inspriational Indigenous profiles.

Free business workshops in Geraldton and Carnarvon

Posted: June 25th, 2012

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Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is offering free Into Business workshops  in Carnarvon and Geraldton to assist Aboriginal people to fully investigate and research their business ideas before taking the leap into business ownership.
The workshops are run in three parts, with part A: Your business idea, goals and expectations, running on 7 August 2012 in Carnarvon and 8 August 2012 in Geraldton.
For more information and to register for the workshops, call 9229 1408 or 1800 107 107, or visit IBA’s website.
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is a commercially focused organisation that promotes and encourages self-management, self-sufficiency and economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They aim to identify and pursue opportunities that enable Indigenous Australians to create wealth, accumulate assets and achieve their financial aspirations.

Download YMAC News issue 18

Posted: June 22nd, 2012

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The latest issue of YMAC News is now available from our website.
It includes stories on the Nyangumarta and Karajarri joint native title determination, proposed changes to the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act, an agreement between the Ngarlawangga people of the Pilbara and Rico Resources, YMAC’s recognition at a community service award ceremony, and the launch of the Wajarri Dictionary by the Bundiyarra Irra-Wangga language program.
There are also profiles on Clarrie Cameron in our regular section “Respect for elders”, successful Yamatji businessman Fred Taylor, and YMAC staff member Daniel Shiosaki.
We’ve included a special section on the 20th anniversary of the Mabo decision, a policy update from YMAC’s policy officer, and a selection of snapshots from around the community in the last few months.
Click here to download YMAC News from our website
If you have any stories or photos you’d like to share with us, elders who you think we should profile, questions about native title, or any other letters to the editor, send them to editor@ymac.org.au.
We hope you enjoy this issue of YMAC News.

Remote WA Communities Welcome Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Posted: June 21st, 2012

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Fresh fruit and vegetables are now being delivered regularly to residents at Punmu and Parnngurr, thanks to a joint initiative between Newcrest Mining and community developers from those regions.

The project, which has been in operation for nearly two years now, ensures people from remote areas have regular access to WA-grown fruit and vegetables. The produce is sold at an affordable price in community shops once it is delivered.

While the initiative was created to assist community members become healthier, it has also helped to generate trust between local community groups and business organisations.

New youth network in Roebourne

Posted: June 18th, 2012

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The Shire of Roebourne is creating a new Youth Leadership Network to engage young people in learning, leadership and community development.

The goal of the project is to raise public awareness of youth issues and address negative stereotypes by actively involving young people in the planning of community events, programs and activities.

The Shire is looking for 15-25 year-olds from a variety of different backgrounds to get on board.

For more information, or to register for the Youth Leadership Network, please phone Kim McColl at the Shire of Roebourne on (08) 9186 8555 or email kimberly.mccoll@roebourne.wa.gov.au

Yamatji artists on show in Perth

Posted: June 11th, 2012

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Artwork: Yalibirri Nesting Time
Artist: Sonya Edney
Copyright 2012

An art exhibition aimed at raising the profile of Indigenous artists from the mid-west region of Western Australia will open next week in Perth’s city centre.

The ‘Good Heart Mid-West Aboriginal Art Exhibition 2012’ is a community-based project backed by Oakajee Port and Rail, which will showcase work from contemporary and traditional Indigenous artists of WA’s mid-west region.

This is the fifth year the exhibition has been run in Perth, and in celebration of its continued success, Oakajee Port and Rail have announced a new devleopment grant for two participating artists. The recipients of these scholarships will receive art supplies and tutition at the Kidogo Art Institute in Fremantle.

The exhibition will be staged in the foyer of the QV1 Building from 18-22 June. Entry is free, 10am-4pm. All artwork is for sale.

For more information, visit the exhibition website.

Deadline extended for comment on WA heritage review

Posted: June 7th, 2012

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The WA Department of Indigenous Affairs yesterday announced that it has extended the deadline for lodging submissions on the Department’s Discussion Paper outlining proposed changes to the WA Aboriginal heritage regime.

The deadline for comments is now Tuesday, 26 June.

Click here for more information on the review and discussion paper

YMAC encourages all West Australians who care about protecting our rich Aboriginal heritage to have a look at the proposals and tell the Minister for Indigenous Affairs what you think about them. 

Support for changes to native title

Posted: June 6th, 2012

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Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) has welcomed today’s announcement by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, of a package of reforms and additional funding to improve the efficiency of the native title system.

In particular, YMAC is pleased that the Government has committed to put forward amendments to incorporate criteria for good faith negotiations into the Native Title Act. This is in line with suggested amendments YMAC put to the Government in 2009, following FMG Pilbara Pty Ltd v Cox (2009).


Simon Hawkins, CEO, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation said, “The High Court’s decision resulted in our push for these ‘good faith’ amendments, to set out clear expectations and certainty for all parties.

Importantly, these changes will require companies to discuss substantive issues within the six-month negotiation period, rather than stalling on preliminary matters such as protocols and timetables. These reforms have been under discussion for several years and we are very pleased to see the Government now moving towards design and implementation.”

The announcements at the National Native Title Conference in Townsville also included:

·      Proposed amendments to allow parties to reach agreement over the historical extinguishment of native title over parks and reserves.

·     The Government has agreed that financial payments to native title parties as part of agreements won’t attract income tax or Capital Gains Tax. This will guarantee that compensation paid for the impairment or loss of native title rights will be treated like other forms of compensation.

Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs also addressed the conference, announcing a long-awaited review of the roles and functions of Native Title Representative Bodies. YMAC hopes this review demonstrates the extensive work Native Title Representative Bodies are doing to support native title groups as they move into a post-determination environment.

Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.

We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.

Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.

Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.

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